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Coal ash is the waste that remains when coal is burned. It is usually collected in a dump, known as a pond. North Carolina has more than 30 such sites in 14 different locations across the state. A pipe running under one of the ponds run by Duke Energy in Eden NC ruptured in February of 2014. The coal ash spilled, largely affecting the Dan River which flows into Virginia. The spill is the third largest of its kind in U.S. history.Many see potential complications because North Carolina's governor, Pat McCrory, worked for Duke Energy for 28 years.

2nd Duke Energy Utility To Seek Rate Hike In North Carolina

Duke Energy's coal burning plant and the adjacent coal ash ponds by the Dan River.
Riverkeeper Foundation
File photo of Duke Energy's coal-burning plant and adjacent coal ash pond by the Dan River. The company is giving notice it plans to seek rate increases for another 2 million North Carolina customers.

Duke Energy Corp. is giving notice it plans to seek electricity rate increases for another 2 million North Carolina customers.

The country's largest electricity company said Tuesday it's filling its rate request on Aug. 25 affecting customers of Duke Energy Carolinas, the company's western North Carolina subsidiary. The size of the rate hike will be disclosed next month.

The company in June asked state utilities regulators to allow it to raise power bills for 1.3 million North Carolina customers of Duke Energy Progress by an average 15 percent.

The subsidiary operating primarily in eastern North Carolina wants an extra $477 million a year from customers to cover ongoing costs of replacing coal-burning plants with natural gas and to begin paying the multi-billion-dollar cost of cleaning up coal-ash pits.

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